0f095f98c370dc7e_TarajiTop.xxxlargeConsidering a career in entertainment, but still want that “A Different World” experience that your friends and family will probably never stop bragging about?  If so, then you may want to consider these eight colleges and universities.  While Juilliard, Yale, NYU, Berklee, and others are often lobbied as the best choices for students who want to pursue careers in acting, music, directing, and more—there are also credible HBCUs that have not only put major names on the big & small screens and concert stage, but also behind the scenes as executives at major networks, agencies, studios, and music companies.

A number of factors were considered when compiling this list.  In entertainment, it is widely accepted that what you decide to major in “doesn’t matter”; however, there are some majors that may better equip you with skills to succeed within the industry.  The locations of the colleges and universities were also taken into account, as proximity to or presence in major markets plays a significant role in the types of opportunities students may (or may not) be able to access.  Of additional relevance are the types of companies where graduates in entertainment are currently employed, as well as famous/notable alumni.

4Clark Atlanta University

Benefiting from the bustling music scene of Atlanta, Clark Atlanta counts music video director Bryan Barber (OutKast, Destiny’s Child, Kelly Clarkson), Grammy-winning producer Bryan-Michael Cox (Mariah Carey, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Monica), DJ Drama, and singer Bobby V. among its alumni and past attendees.  Outside of music, Clark Atlanta counts Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon among its alumni ranks; Leon has been dubbed as “Broadway’s leading African-American director,” having directed plays such as Fences and A Raisin in the Sun (the latter of which earned him a Tony).  Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, founder of Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN), is also a notable graduate, as well as Kenya Barris, who created ABC’s hit sitcom “Blackish” & wrote the screenplay for Barbershop: The Next Cut.  Some of the university’s alumni currently hold positions at companies such as Google, Atlantic Records, and Universal Music Group.

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